Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-02
TALKS OF WICHITA.

Mr.. W. j. Lewis, secretary and treasurer
of the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad
| Peoria, Decatur & Evansville railway anG
Evansville & Indianapolis railroad, is mum
bered among the late arrivals in the city
He is an old friend of Perry Hood, of the
Niederlander Office, and it would seem from
that fact that he will be given good facilities
| for getting a look at the city square in the
| face.
He left home for Wichita end the central
idea was to seq the metropolis Of the great
southwest and take all the rest for granted.
A ride along some of the leading thorough
fares yesterday revealed to him state of
to find While reasonably confident, as he
expressed it, that he would find live town
at the end of his trip, he was in no wise pre-
pared to find what he unhesitatingly pro-
nounces great city. Being acquainted with
the west, he seems to be able 10 tell a live
city when he meets it, and is quite sure that
he landed in one Of that sort this time. ''In
fact" he said, 81 rather expected from what
1 had learned that / would find here an over
grown town. had heard about weeds grow
ing up in foundations but had not got to
believing that exactly, but did think that
| building had ceased to some extent, also that
business was not es good as in had been.
As to the first part of it, the building, l
can't see how city could build more rapidly.
The kind of buildings that are being put up
is the thing that strikes me very forcibly.
The words "Great City," seem to he written
on all Of them. They amt put up for use in
town but city. Such massive masonry
amt called for in town or in the smaller
order of cities, but are called for in great
cities and are here being built in response to
the demands of great city. The business
itself In your many large business establish
ments strongly indicate that the much build
ing is in order. | have noticed very closely
the establishments have bsen in and they
all seem to be doing great business. While
in one of Your wholesale houses, on inquiry
and observation learned that while I was
there many customers bought large bills of
goods representing a number of the leading
towns all around the city, taking in a radius
of miles in length. That single fact proved
to me more than all the favorable newspaper
literature had ever seen concerning the
city. 1 no longer doubt or question the as
sertion that Wichita is the commercial CEN
ter of great, rich territory. AS to the
other feature that helps to build
cities manufacturing l have also
been giving, that some little
investigation. did not expect to see so
many smoke stacks, from many Of which
smoke pours forth both by day and night,
and the wheels of industry turn continually.
find that there are quite a number of man
ufacturing industries that are now going
here, and many more getting ready for busi
ness that are no more out of place in this
city than the iron industry in its many
forms in the smoky city of Pittsburg. This
concerning factories and manu-
featuring has been somewhat Of surprise to
me, but l now see the facts, and l can also
see why the facts are just as they are"
Mr.. Lewis will remain in the city some
days, and it seems probable that each day will
add enthusiasm to his opinion of the city's
present and future,